The Illini coach said his 6-3 team would be a top-15 squad if it played in the SEC instead of the Big Ten.
Illinois beat Nebraska 24-13 on Friday, Nov. 6, clinching bowl eligibility for a third straight season for the first time since the early 1990s. Coach Bret Bielema used the postgame podium for something other than celebrating his team's achievement, taking aim instead at the SEC.
The shot came three days after the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season gave SEC teams a heavy share of the top spots, a decision that has needled Big Ten coaches. "If we were in the SEC, we'd probably be a top-15 team," Bielema said, before adding that his team's real task is staying focused rather than worrying about rankings. "We've just got to continue to stay on track where we're at and do a really good job of holding the moment and putting ourselves in a position to be successful."
The win extended Illinois' winning streak to four games, improving the Illini to 6-3 on the season. Bielema's comment adds him to a growing list of Big Ten coaches who have publicly questioned how the CFP committee is valuing SEC schedules compared to their own.